Explore FAQ

Passphrase is a required field but one can copy-paste passphrase to label weakening security model.

Please visit https://github.com/superbacked/superbacked to learn how to verify integrity of releases.

Verifying integrity of releases before using Superbacked is recommended.

Given Superbacked is designed to run offline on air-gapped computers, there is no automatic update system in place.

To update Superbacked, download and install latest release.

Superbacked app requires a camera with a resolution of at least 1080p.

If scanning blocks does not work on computer, please try using a higher quality 1080p webcam such as the Razer Kiyo X.

Superbacked app runs on 64-bit ARM and Intel or AMD hardware running Debian-based Linux operating systems (releases are tested on Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS) and on 64-bit Apple silicon or Intel Macs running macOS (releases are tested on macOS Sequoia and Tahoe).

Using Windows? Check out Superbacked OS which runs on Intel or AMD and Raspberry Pi hardware.

Check out hardware recommendations.

Choosing appropriate hardware to run Superbacked depends on use case.

If secret is present on one’s everyday computer (one’s password manager passphrase for example), one can run Superbacked on that computer to back up secret.

If secret is not present on one's everyday computer (one's signing device mnemonic for example), one should never use Superbacked on computer that isn't air-gapped and one should always use computer that one can secure-erase (Apple silicon Mac) or that has data persistence disabled by default (see Superbacked OS or Tails).

For sensitive use cases, when using Apple silicon Mac, we recommend factory-resetting computer once done using Superbacked given blocks sent to printer via CUPS are written to disk (among other data persistence issues).

A signing device (also called a hardware wallet) is a piece of air-gapped hardware used to securely store private keys and sign transactions.

An air-gapped computer is a computer that is completely and permanently isolated from all other computers by disabling networking or any other computer-to-computer interfaces.

For sensitive use cases, we recommend running Superbacked on air-gapped computer using Superbacked OS or Tails.

Check out hardware recommendations.

The following are recommendations based on supplies tested and used by the Superbacked team.

Printer: Brother HL-L2460DW which supports AirPrint on macOS and Superbacked OS out-of-the-box.

Thermal laminator: Scotch TL901X with Scotch TP5900-100 5 mil 4x6in lamination pouches.

Paper: acid-free blank 4x6in index cards.

Superbacked uses Electron’s desktopCapturer module to allow users to switch from camera to screen capture (using gear icon) to scan QR codes displayed on other apps or websites.

This optional feature is very useful to back up two-factor authentication TOTP secrets displayed as QR codes.

Audio is never captured even though permission prompt mentions audio.